OFFICIALS AT the Charlotte Motor Speedway are talking about building an NFL-calibre stadium across from the speedway as proof the area is serious about pro football.

CMS president Bruton Smith called the proposed site "the perfect place (for) a stadium in the Carolinas. We had traffic management consultants and architects study the site and they confirm our belief."

Track general manager Humpy Wheeler said the traffic management system in place for the speedway would easily accomodate the crowds expected for NFL games.

"We don't have any interest in owning an NFL franchise," he added. "The proposal we're making is a common sense approach in the face of the staggering costs to build and manage sports facilities."

Demographics list 5.3 million people within 90 minutes of Charlotte. That's expected to increase to 6.0 million by 1995 and 6.5 million by 2000.

TO THE SURPRISE of hardly anyone Bob Whitcomb is taking his team off the Winston Cup circuit until he gets outside sponsorship. He's released driver Ken Bouchard to look for another ride.

"We intend to be racing again as soon as possible, but no timetable has been established," he said Thursday. "We'll run a limited schedule or sit out the rest of this season if necessary."

Whitcomb said he's spent "several million dollars" on the team and can't keep up that pace.

Despite being '88 Rookie of the Year, Bouchard couldn't help Whitcomb find a backer. "The sponsorship we anticipated as a result of that hasn't materialized," Whitcomb said.

QUICK LAPS: Mario and Michael Andretti will be teammates this year on the CART Indy-car team owned by Paul Newman and Carl Haas. It marks the first time in Indy-car history that a father and son have driven for the same owner. Both will drive Chevy-powered Lolas... Newport News native Jim McClure is favored to win the Harley-Davidson class in Sunday's motorcycle drag race at Commerce, Ga. McClure holds the ET and speed records for the class... Southside Speedway near Richmond opens next weekend with a Late Model 50.